The Choice
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Benjamin Walker and Teresa Palmer

The Trailer:

The Gist:
In true Nicholas Sparks fashion, it’s a story about love, heartbreak, a row boat, and being caught in the rain.

My Thoughts:

1. For those of you who didn’t see Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, consider Benjamin Walker (who plays lead man Travis) as someone to put on your radar. I have only photo researched him, because I’m afraid that if I properly video stalk him, I’ll learn that his accent isn’t real. I’d prefer my Benjamin with a Southern drawl to accompany his flirtatious quips.
2. I feel that Travis’ flirt game deserves a bullet point of its own. The words “you bother me” will never be the same again.
3. No matter how you try to convince yourself, Teresa Palmer is NOT Kristen Stewart with a blonde dye job.
4. This movie has dogs AND puppies. Nicholas Sparks is so smart.
5. It also makes you want to move to North Carolina and live in a house by the beach. And fall in love with your hot next-door neighbor who happens to be an available bachelor.
6. I understand that a good love story has to have some sort of romantic struggle. Sometimes, the girl doesn’t “see” that the guy is perfect for her and we have to work through an entire story line of how he maneuvers the friend zone. Other times, illness gets in the way. In more cases than I care to admit, Sparks has the female lead connected to some other guy that she’s trying to love well, but she’s unwilling to admit that something is missing. Male lead waltzes into her life and turns it upside down. She inevitably cheats on her boyfriend/husband/finace (YOU DIDN’T DESERVE THAT LON HAMMOND!) in the name of true love. This really creams my corn. It’s a struggle for me every single time.
7. Nicholas Sparks is also notorious for heartache and heartbreak. There’s a scene in a hospital room (featured in the trailer) that will have you grabbing for the Kleenex. Or in my case, my shirt sleeve. I opted to remove almost all of the contents of my purse (including tissue) so I could smuggle in water and snacks. Never again.
8. I know this review is vague and that’s bothering some of you. You want to know what I really thought, and I understand your frustration. I’m keeping my feelings close to the vest because I think the payoff will be much more satisfying if I don’t give too much away. Once again, all you need to know is that Travis is adorable and you’ll need Kleenex.
9. Rotten Tomatoes gives The Choice an abysmal 7%. I think that number is extremely unfair. Critics probably rolled their eyes as they sat through another Sparks movie that has been told a dozen other times. DUH! THAT’S WHY WE CONTINUE TO WATCH THEM! At the end of the day, most of us are rooting for the love story. We rarely have the opportunity to gather our girlfriends in a darkened theater to munch on jellybeans and tear up at a man who would do anything for the love of his life. That’s Sparks 101. We want to believe that true love exists out there and Nicholas is one of the few telling those stories.

Survey Says
I personally think going to see The Choice on the big screen is worth the money you’ll spend at the theater. As far as Nicholas Sparks movies go, I would definitely consider this one in my top five.

Disclaimer:
Nothing has ever come close to The Notebook. It will always be #1 in my book. YOU’RE MY BOY, NOAH CALHOUN!